Five ways to celebrate the Earth

From growing vegetables in your backyard to reflecting on ways to make the Earth a safer, more peaceful place to live, the Baltimore area offers plenty of ways to commemorate Friday's 33rd annual Earth Day. Here are just a few:

Art exhibit"The Process of Peace," on display through May 20 at the Towson ARTS Collective, features works that evoke the artists' personal peace processes, what they do to further the movement toward peace and how that affects their creative endeavors. A free reception is set for 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday as the culmination of Baltimore's eighth annual Green Week, a celebration of all things eco-friendly. Information: 646-573-5509 or towsonartscollective.org.

Junior NaturalistBaltimore County's Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills, offers a morning of fun for junior naturalists, ages 6-9, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Activities include a trail walk, nature games, animal encounters and puppet shows. If nothing else, an hour or so enjoying this oasis should tell you all you need to know about why the natural environment is worth saving. The Junior Naturalist program is $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers. 443-738-9200 or explorenature.org.

Local organicsThe B&O American Brasserie is offering a fixed-price organic menu Friday that focuses on local ingredients and flavors. The three-course meal runs $50, $15 extra for organic, sustainable wine. The brasserie is at 2 N. Charles St., on the ground floor of the Hotel Monaco in the old B&O Railroad Building. 443-692-6172 or bandorestaurant.com.

Science Center Any day is a good day to learn about the Earth during a visit to the Inner Harbor's Maryland Science Center. But special Earth Day activities scheduled for Saturday include recycling races, decorating reusable tote bags, planting lavender and creating art using recyclable materials. Events run noon-4 p.m. at the science center, 601 Light St., and are free with paid admission (which runs $11.95-$18.95). Information: 410-685-5225 or mdsci.org.

"Who Wants to be an Urban Farmer?" If the answer is you, then be sure to make it down to Clifton Park's Real Food Farm, 2701 St. Lo Drive, from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. There, staff from Real Food Farm and Sunnyside Farm will offer tips on composting, microgreen cultivations, backyard chickens and other eco-friendly subjects. The event runs rain or shine, and a donation of $5-$15 is suggested. RSVP to 410-366-8533, ext. 203, or realfoodfarm@cicicworks.com.

By the end of August, motorists heading east on Frederick Road from Catonsville's commercial district toward Baltimore City will have a new landmark welcoming them to the Paradise neighborhood, a colorful mural that organizers hope will honor both the area's past and its future.

National Night Out activities Aug. 4 are planned to include a rally and a police-escorted motorcade of Baltimore County police, firefighters and volunteers from the nonprofit organization Towson Area Citizens On Patrol driving through all of TACOP's 25 neighborhoods to showcase crime prevention...

As for that idea I floated a few months ago: that Gov. Larry Hogan and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake should work together on a comprehensive, post-Freddie Gray, post-riot plan for the city's recovery. Forget about it. There are no takers.